Pole straightener



Nov. 6, 1951 J. H. cRowsoN POLE STRAIGHTENER 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 19, 1948 {t (11.22: Crowd-0n I INVENTOR ATTORNEYS.

Nov. 6, 1951 J. H. CROWSON 2,574,248

POLE STRAIGHTENER Filed Nov. 19, 1948 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR v I BY /1 1 r I 1 ATTORNEYS.

Nov. 6, 1951 J. H. CROWSON POLE STRAIGHTENER 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Nov. 19, 1948 a V a WH M w a w -H u J 17. Crow 8071/ INVENTOR ATTORNEYS.

NOV. 6, 1951 J CROWSQN 2,574,248

POLE S'VIRAIGHTENER I Filed Nov. 19, 1948 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Lrzzchbwaan INVENTOR ATTORNEYS.

Patented Nov. 6, 1951 UNITED STATS OFFICE This invention relates to a machine for straightening poles. The invention has particular applicability to such work as the straightening of cane fishing poles. However, the principles and construction embodied in the invention permit its application to wood of any size, such as telephone poles, piles for wharves, or the like.

The main object of the invention is to provide a machine of the character described that is adapted to straighten poles speedily and efficiently, by permitting their passage. longitudinally of and between a series of rotating rollers, with said rollers being novelly formed in a manher to remove all kinks, bends, and other crooked portions, so as to provide a pole substantially straight from end to end.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists of certain novel details of construction and combinations of parts,,hereinafter more fully described and pointed out in the claims, it being understood that changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit of the invention as claimed.

Referring to .the drawings Figure l is a side elevational view, portions being broken away, of a pole Straightening machine constructed in accordance with the invention.

Figure 2 is a front elevational view, lower portions being broken away.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary top plan view, showing the front portion of the machine.

Figure 4 is a front elevational view, a pole being shown in position to be operated upon by the machine, and adjusting means fora fioat ing roller being illustrated in front elevation.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary top plan View of the front of a modified form of machine, showing a modification of a drive means.

Figure 6 is a front elevation of the form of Fig. 5.

Figure 7 is a perspective view of another form of machine showing another modified drive for the rollers.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the machine includes a supporting frame which may vary in shape or design, and which in the present instance-includes longitudinal base members It formed of pipe material or the like, these being parallel and rigidly connected by transverse basemembers H. The ends of the base member Ii! are integral with upwardly converg- V 4 Claims. (Cl. 144 255) the uprights.

ing uprights 12. To impart strength to the frame, there may be provided longitudinal frame members i3 rigidly connecting the uprights l2 at opposite ends of the supporting frame, and cross braces l4 connecting the uprights at each end Other longitudinal frame members It may also be provided, connecting the upper ends of v Rigidly connected to the uprights 52 at opposite ends of the machine are the upstanding bearing plates it, having the upper extensions ii, that are slotted inwardly to receive thefloating bearings l8, mounted in the has of the extensions for up and down sliding movement.

Rigid with each floating bearing [8, and extending laterally therefrom, is a side extension i9, and pivotally connected to said extension is at each end of the machine is link 26, connected at its other end to spring 2|. Spring 2| is connected at its other end to a threaded crank 22, thread able through a bracket 23 mounted on one of the uprights l2.

The threaded crank is for the purpose of adjusting the tension of the pull back spring 2!, and the construction illustrated, as will be seen, results in floating bearings H5 at opposite ends of the machine being yieldably retained in the lower ends .of the downwardly slotted extensions ll of the bearing plates I6.

This will be the normal position of the floating bearings 18. However, if it is desired to lift said bearings, this is accomplished by means of an operating lever .24, fulcrumed intermediate V gitudinally of the machine and being journaled for rotation in the bearing plates It at the front and rear of the machine. Said longitudinal member .2 3 can be connected to the operating handle 24 for rotation thereby, and at the rear end of the machine, said connecting member 24' can be integrally provided or otherwise fixedly 'connected'to an arm 25 connected to link 2%! at the rear end of themachine.

Thus, one man operation can be provided, with both floating bearings l8 being elevated simultaneously against the action of the pull back spring 2l.

An'upper roller generally designated 25 is provided with trunnions or gudgeons at its ends journaled in the floating bearings iii. For the greatest portion of its length, roller 25 is formed cylindrically, that is. for the greatest portion of its length it is of constant diameter as at 26. The remaining portion of roller 25 is, however, formed with undulations, so that crests 21 alternate with valleys 28.

A pair of lower rollers 29 also are formed cylindrically for the greatest part of their lengths. The cylindrical or constant diameter portions of the lower rollers 29 are coextensive with the cylindrical portion 26. The remaining portions of rollers 29 are formed with undulations. However, the undulations of the paired lower rollers are staggered or disposed alternately relative to the undulations of the upper roller, so that the crests 30 of the lower rollers are staggered relative to the crests 21 of the upper roller. The undulating end portions of the lower rollers and the undulating end portion of the upper roller are coextensive in length, are all at one end of the rollers (seen as the left hand end in Fig. 1), and are in opposed relation to each other.

All the rollers rotate in the same direction. Any suitable drive can be provided for imparting this rotatable movement. For example, in Figs. 1 to 4 there is illustrated drive means including the flexible shafts 31, each connected to a roller for rotating said roller. Flexible shafts 3| can extend to a point remote from the device, where as will be understood, they would be connected to any suitable drive means including geared connections for rotating all the shafts in the same direction.

It is important to note also, as best seen from Figs. 2, 4, or 6, that the rollers are so arranged in their side-by-side, parallel relationship as to be disposed in a circular series. As a result, a space is provided extendin from end to end of the rollers and disposed between the rollers, this space being bounded by the side walls of the respective rollers and being disposed centrally of said circular series. This space is used for receiving a pole P to be straightened.

In any event, the rollers are so related that the poles may be removed from the machine after passing through the undulations, or from one side, or they may pass on out the back end of the machine, whichever is most convenient.

In Figs. and 6, another possible drive is illustrated. This includes the flexible shafts 32, connected at one end to the rollers, and connected at their other ends to the pulleys 33, around which passes the belt 34, that is powered by the electric motor 35, mounted on the cross bar 36 that is secured to uprights I2 by U-clamps 31. Mounted on the cross bar 36 are the spaced standards 38, merging at their upper ends into the inverted V-shaped bearing plate 39, on which the pulleys 33 are mounted for rotation. The plate portion 39 of the standards is held rigid with the bearing plate I6, and is maintained in spaced relation to said bearing plate, by the upper braces 40. Lower braces 4| can be integral with the lower ends of the standards 38, and extend rearwardly to the cross member 36.

The form of Figs. 5 and 6 shows the drive means mounted as an attachment, directly upon the device. In Fig. 7, another modification of a drive means is illustrated as an example, wherein the drive means is also mounted upon the device. In this form, a support 42 extends transversely of the supporting frame, and hinged to said support is a plate 43 on which is mounted the electric motor 44, that powers the belt 45 for driving 4 pulley 46 that rotates shaft 41 extending longitudinally of the frame, and journaled at its ends in floating bearings 48 mounted for up and down adjustment in bearing plates 49 depending from the frame.

In the form of Fig. 7, there are secured to the shaft 41 the longitudinally spaced rollers 50. Rollers 50 are rotatable with the shaft, and around these rollers pass the belts 5|, that are applied directly to roller 25 and rollers 29.

I believe it is obvious from the above that there can be many ways of driving the straightening rollers, but preferably, in every instance the rollers are all rotated in the same direction.

Mounted under the undulating portion of the straightening rollers is a heating means, for applying heat to poles to be straightened. Preferably, this includes a gas supply line 52, providing a supply of gaseous fuel that can be controlled by valve 53 mounted in the adjacent bearing plate [6, valve 53 being mounted in the end of outlet pipe 54 that is coextensive in length with the length of the undulatin portions of the rollers. Outlet pipe 54 has its uppermost portion formed, from end to end of said pipe, with a plurality of jet openings 55.

For supporting outlet pipe 54 in proper position, there can be provided the supporting arm 56 extending from a portion of the frame.

Formed in the respective bearing plates I8, substantially centrally thereof, are large apertures 51, and through these apertures pass a pole P to be straightened between the rollers.

In the present instance, the pole P is a cane pole, to be straightened as one of the steps incident to its being fashioned into a fishing pole. It is believed obvious that other types of poles can be straightened, and a machine of suitable size can, I believe, be applied to the straightening of poles of substantial length and diameter, such as telephone poles, posts of various types, piles, or the like.

In use of the device in straightening of cane fishing poles, which is the main use to which the machine has so far been put, it has been found that the machine can straighten hundreds of poles in a single working day, and two machines in use stra1ghten an average of one thousand poles in all, each day.

In use, the heating means is turned on, so that heat will rise up into the space between the undulating portion of the three straightening rollers. A pole P is now inserted in the front end of the machine, said end being at the left in Figs. 1 and '7. The heat makes the poles pliable and easy to work. so as to assist the undulating portions of the rollers in straightening the poles. In any event, the undulating portions of the straightening rollers all rotate in one direction, and engage between them the pole P, thus rotating it in an opposite direction. The pole is fed lengthwise of the machine, from front to rear, and as it passes between the undulated portions of the rollers, all bends, kinks, and curves in the pole are effectively removed. The pole then passes between the straight or cylindrical portions of the rollers, and these straight portions hold the pole straight while it is cooling, eliminating any tendency on the part of the pole to return to its previously crooked shape.

The speed of roller rotation can vary. However, I have found that it is preferable that the straightening rollers revolve very slowly, as for example, at approximately thirty revolutions per minute. This rate of rotation produces rotation of the pole to be straightened at approximately fifty revolutions per minute.

I believe the manner of insertion and removal of the poles may also be noted. By depressing the operating handle 24, the floating bearings l8 are elevated, and the upper roller 25 is thus also elevated. This permits insertion of a crooked pole P, and the operating handle 24 is then released, causing the roller 25 to be returned to its lower or operating position. The pole P is now engaged between all three rollers, and rotation is imparted to said straightening rollers.

Pole P, as portions thereof are straightened, is periodically advanced until it has passed completely through the machine.

While the straightener is in operation the top roller is floating on the pole to take care of the size and taper of any pole.

The illustrated forms of the invention are merely examples of the invention, and changes may be made within the scope of the claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a pole straightener, a plurality of substantially coextensive, parallel pole-engaging rollers, said rollers being disposed in side-by-side relation in a substantially circular series so as to define in the center of said series a pole-receiving space extending from end to end of the rollers and bounded throughout its length by the side walls of the rollers, each roller havin one end portion formed with undulations and its other end portion formed cylindrically, the first-named end portions of the rollers being substantially coextensive in length and in opposed relation to each other, the undulations of at least one of the rollers being staggered relative to the undulations of other rollers adjacent thereto, said undulating portions of the rollers being adapted to press out crooked portions of said pole, and the cylindrical portions of the rollers being adapted to prevent reversion of the pole to crooked form.

2. In a pole straightener, a supporting frame, a plurality of substantially coextensive, parallel pole-engaging rollers extending longitudinally thereof, said rollers being disposed in side-by-side relation in a substantially circular series so as to define in the center of said series a pole-receiving space extending from end to end of the rollers and bounded throughout its length by the side walls of the rollers, each roller having one end portion formed with undulations and the other end portion of each roller being formed with a constant diameter, the first-named end portions of the rollers being substantially coextensive in length and in opposed relation to each other, the undulations of at least one of the rollers being staggered relative to the undulations of other rollers adjacent thereto, and means for rotating the rollers in one direction, for rotation of a pole extending through said space in an opposite direction.

3. In a. pole straightener, a supporting frame, an upper roller extended longitudinally thereof,

a pair of lower rollers extended longitudinally of the frame, said upper and lower rollers being substantially coextensive in length and parallel and being disposed in side-by-side relation in a substantially circular series so as to define in the center of said series a pole-receiving space extending from end to end of the rollers and bounded throughout its length by the side walls of the rollers, one of the rollers being adjustable toward and away from the other rollers, each roller having one end portion formed with undulations and its other end portions formed cylindrically, the first-named end portion of the rollers being substantially coextensive in length and in opposed relation to each other, the undulations of one of the rollers being staggered relative to the undulations of the other two rollers for pressing out crooked portions of a pole, means for rotating the rollers in one direction, for rotation of the pole thereby in another direction, and means for heating a pole to be straightened during engagement thereof by the rollers.

4. In a pole straightener, an elongated frame, a plurality of substantially coextensive, parallel pole-engaging rollers extended longitudinally of and journaled in the ends of the frame, one

of said rollers being mounted in the frame for adjustment toward and away from the other rollers, said rollers being disposed in side-by-side relation in a substantially circular series so as to define in the center of said series a pole-receiving space extending from end to end of the rollers and bounded throughout its length by the side walls of the rollers, said rollers each having one end portion formed with one or more alternatin circumferential crests and valleys, said end portions being substantially coextensive in length and in opposed relation to each other, the crests and valleys of at least one of the rollers being staggered relative to the crests and valleys of other rollers adjacent thereto and being adapted to engage crooked portions of said pole, the remaining portions of the rollers being formed of constant diameter for preventing reversion of a straight pole to crooked shape, means for rotating the rollers in one direction for rotation of a pole engaged thereby in an opposite direction, and means for heating a pole to be straightened, said heating means being disposed under the first-named portion of the rollers.

JONAS H. CROWSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 185,742 Gillespie Dec. 26, 1876 388,701 McCool Aug. 28, 1888 852,826 Doherty May 7, 1907 1,482,136 Magono Jan. 29, 1924 1,890,287 Givens Dec. 6, 1932 1,936,679 Leech Nov. 28, 1933 

